It's turning out to be a rebuilding year for UConn, but Daniel Hamilton offers reason for hope.

MEMPHIS — Out of a muddled season for UConn, one thing is becoming bright and clear: Freshman Daniel Hamilton is growing up, establishing himself as the next big thing for the Huskies.

"The Daniel Hamilton kid is going to be a heck of a player," Memphis coach Josh Pastner said after Hamilton scored 25 points in UConn's 75-72 loss to the Tigers at FedEx Forum on Thursday night.

"Hamilton is one of the best young players I saw," said Larry Brown, Southern Methodist's Hall of Fame coach.

"The Hamilton kid is going to be a star in this league," said Houston coach Kelvin Sampson.

Those assessments have come in February, as Hamilton, the 6-foot-7 swingman from Los Angeles, has come into his own, cut down on mistakes and become more consistent for the Huskies (14-11, 7-6 in the American Athletic Conference).

Against Memphis, senior Ryan Boatright was stifled by Pastner's box-and-one and zone defenses. Like many UConn opponents, the Tigers were determined not to let Boatright beat them, and like some, they succeeded in shutting him down. Boatright took only five shots and scored seven points.

The difference, and what could be a difference-maker for UConn in the near future, is that Hamilton stepped up in such a big way. The 25 points were the most by a UConn freshman since Jerome Dyson scored 27 against Syracuse in 2007. Hamilton also had 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

UConn lost to Memphis 75-72 Thursday night in an AAC men's basketball game at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

"Daniel had a tremendous game, almost a triple-double," coach Kevin Ollie said. "He rebounded well, had some turnovers but he got in that four hole and was aggressive shooting. He still had great vision with seven assists. We need him to keep playing like that and, hopefully, Ryan can come back and play his type of game. "

When Boatright was hit in the mouth and had to sit out about six minutes, Hamilton helped the Huskies, who were down 13, gain ground. In the second half, the Huskies came back from 15 points behind. Hamilton hit a three-pointer to finish a 9-0 run and hit another with 30 seconds left to make it a three-point game. Hamilton was hitting the runners in the lane that he had been maddeningly missing.

And Ollie, riding the hot hand, drew up a pick-and-pop play for Hamilton with 8.4 seconds left, but that shot, which could have sent the game to overtime, was a few inches off to the left.

"It's giving me some confidence going into the next game," said Hamilton, who was 10-for-22. "But I've got to be more efficient. I've got to shoot 50 percent, be more efficient."

Hamilton's freshman season has been adventurous. He had 11 assists in a blowout win against Coppin State. He caught an earful from Ollie during the game against Columbia, but came back to make important plays down the stretch. He made crucial plays as UConn rallied to tie Temple on New Year's Eve, but when he went to the free throw line with a chance to win the game, he missed two shots. He came on strong late at Tulsa and finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort.

"He's just got to start with the same intensity that he plays with at the end of the game," teammate Amida Brimah said. "That's what it is. Don't get down on yourself when you make a mistake."

After UConn's best game of the season, a win against Tulsa in the rematch, Hamilton, who had a double-double in that game, asserted that he was a "scorer," something that Boatright has been saying of him since he arrived on campus. He asserted himself in the scoring column at Memphis.

"I just felt like somebody had to step up," Hamilton said. "It was time for me to step up."

Perhaps most impressive for Hamilton, who is averaging 10.8 points and 7.2 rebounds, is the turnover stat. He had three at Memphis, but has only 11 turnovers in the past six games. Earlier in the season, he had as many as eight, in the loss to West Virginia. His assists (84) are now far outpacing his turnovers (67).

"It's encouraging going forward, but you want to win," Ollie said. "We've all seen Daniel do things like this, but not to this capacity. He's a wonderful player. At 6-7 and 185, he's [among the leaders] in the conference in rebounding."

This season has become more about development for the Huskies, who have virtually no chance to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. Over the last five regular season games, starting with Tulane at Gampel Pavilion on Sunday, the Huskies will look for ways to win, people to lean on, for a last-ditch run in the American Conference Tournament. Failing a championship there, UConn would be relegated to the NIT, which, if approached the right way, could be a valuable vehicle for developing players for next season.

Boat Afloat

Boatright was among the 17 finalists announced Friday for the Bob Cousy Award, given by the Hall of Fame to the nation's top point guard. Shabazz Napier won the award last year, and Kemba Walker in 2011, so Boatright, who leads the Huskies in scoring, assists and steals, will try to make it three Huskies in five years.

Boatright, who was hit in the mouth during a brief shoving match in UConn's loss to Memphis on Thursday night, spent Friday afternoon at a dentist's office, missing practice. He had a front tooth knocked loose.

The list of 17 finalists will be narrowed to five by early March. The award will be presented in Los Angeles on April 10.